Frequently Asked Questions

Design Management System

This works very similar to the way a Content Management System (CMS) works, only it relates to the design of your site rather than the content contained on your site. With a design management system we are able to control all aspects of your design and make changes quickly from the front end of your site. It is your choice if you want access to the front end editor. If you do choose to have access to it, I do not assume responsibility for any accidental damages to the site. If you would like training on how to use it please let me know and we can work out a training program that fits your needs.

In comparison most themes are very limited in their ability to be customized, unless you are working with the designer of the theme. If you would like me to customize a theme that you have purchased, I will look into the theme and find out what we are able to do with it, but I encourage you to really look into any theme and what you can do and can’t do with it before purchasing. Trying to do advanced customizations on a theme that was not designed for customizations is time consuming and often not worth the investment.

Frameworks are often better options than themes because they are designed for advanced customization, but they often have a very high learning curve and are not user friendly.

I use a Design Management System (DMS) by Pagelines. This system was developed specifically for use with the WordPress CMS and built to be flexible and last for far longer than a normal theme or framework lifespan. There are no limits with this method of designing because there is no pre-designed coding, only defaults and a blank canvas for designing unique sites.

A Content Management System is used to manage the content that is on a website without digging into the html. Content management systems allow website owners to add pages, categories, and posts with little to no coding knowledge. This is achieved through a dashboard (The CMA – Content Management Application) where you can choose between a visual editor or text (html/css) editor to create new content.

While CMS systems vary, the one that I install includes the following features listed and others that are not listed :

Domain Registration

You will need to select a domain name that is avaliable and coorelates directly with your business. Once you have selected your domain name you will need to choose a register such as GoDaddy, HostGator, NameCheap ect… I would like to mention that you do not have to register your domain with the same company you choose for hosting. You can shop around for the best price and then I can transfer your domain to your host. This transfer process can take up to 48 hours. There is no additional charge for this service.

Your domain name is the part of a url that identifies your website location. For example this website is located at www.casseysdesigns.com, casseysdesigns is what we are referring to as your domain name in this example. You may purchase any domain extension, dot coms are the most used and often get higher rankings, but its not so significant a difference that you shouldn’t use other extensions if they better suite your needs.

Step 1 : Select a hosting company.

You can choose any hosting company. I personally use HostGator and they are very reliable and have excellent customer service. I have also worked with Bluehost and GoDaddy and they are both reliable host from what I have experienced with them. If you decide to go with HostGator I recommend choosing either the Baby Plan or the Business Plan, but the Hatchling plan will work for many independent business owners or representatives. You can upgrade your plan at any time if your hosting plan no longer meets your needs.

If you decide to go with GoDaddy or any other company that offers WordPress packages, please do not choose this package unless it includes access to your cpanel! If you are not sure, get in touch with me and I can help you make the right selection for your needs.
**If you select GoDaddy, please choose their Lunix Hosting Package.

Minimum Requirments for Hosting

At the very least you need the following :

Web Hosting

Single Domain

UNLIMITED Disk Space

UNLIMITED Bandwidth

Shared SSL Certificate

1 Host Email Account

If you are going to be selling products directly from your site I recommend you obtain a Private SSL and IP and verify your domain with your register.

You may add additional pages at any time during and or after your project is complete.

The cost is dependent on the type of page(s) that you would like to add to your site. Please visit Web Design Services for detailed descriptions of each type of page. Once there you can use the page scrolling navigation to scroll directly to the “Pages” section of Features and Add-ons. Below I have listed these page types with prices.